Shima Seiki, the Wakayama, Japan-based flat knitting solutions specialist, is set to make its return to ShanghaiTex this month after a 14-year absence, reaffirming its position as a global leader in advanced knitting technology. Exhibiting alongside its Hong Kong subsidiary, the company will present a new generation of shaped knitting machines engineered to meet diverse customer needs with uncompromising Made-in-Japan quality.

The centrepiece of the display is the reborn SES-R series. First launched in the 1980s as the world’s first short-bed full-fashioning system capable of producing shaped pieces one garment at a time, the SES line helped redefine the industry. The latest SES-R model introduces an all-new spring-type moveable sinker system with switchable stroke and pause functions, enabling more complex dimensional sinker patterns. Enhanced by auto yarn carriers and loop presser beds positioned above both needle beds, the SES-R supports improved performance in inverse plating and inlay knitting. Shown as a prototype at ITMA Milan in 2023, the production version appears in Shanghai in 14-gauge with a 52-inch knitting width to support larger garment sizes.

Alongside it, the SES-R Standard model debuts as a more accessible version of the flagship machine, offering the same next-generation sinker system and optional upgrades for manufacturers seeking high-value knitwear production in fluctuating markets. It also appears in 14-gauge with a 52-inch width.

Shima Seiki will additionally unveil the new N.SSR132, a cost-efficient entry in its global standard shaped-knitting line. Combining a compact, lightweight carriage with a maximum knitting speed of 1.2 m/s and the rapid-return R2CARRIAGE system, the machine balances performance with affordability. It retains hallmark technologies such as the Digital Stitch Control System, spring-type moveable sinkers, stitch presser, and takedown comb, while introducing optional sub-rollers and an expanded 52-inch width. Designed to uphold Japanese standards of quality, safety and reliability, the N.SSR132 sets a new benchmark for value-driven knitting production.

The company will also display the N.SVR122 in a 22-gauge prototype version, demonstrating efficient production of ultrafine gauge fabrics. Long regarded as an industry standard, the N.SVR series integrates proven technologies to deliver reliability, productivity and user-friendliness demanded by the world’s fashion markets.

Shima Seiki’s return to ShanghaiTex underscores its continued investment in technological innovation across both premium and entry-level machine categories, as well as its commitment to supporting a rapidly evolving global knitwear industry.

Shima Seiki at ShanghaiTex 2025

16-19 December 2025

Shanghai New International Expo Centre

Hall N3, Booth A20

www.shimaseiki.com